Education

YCF awards nearly $300,000 in Scholarships for 2024-25 academic year

Your Community Foundation of North Central West Virginia Inc. (YCF) awarded 106 scholarships totaling $293,900 for the 2024-2025 academic year. 

Applications were evaluated by scholarship committees with over 100 volunteers from across north-central West Virginia. 

YCF currently manages over 40 scholarship funds. New scholarship endowments may be established with a minimum donation of $20,000, which donors may pledge over three years. The principal is invested, and the earnings provide scholarship dollars — forever. Donors may suggest award criteria and choose a name for the fund. Scholarship endowments are often named in honor or memory of a loved one. 

The following scholarships made inaugural awards this year:  

Nathan Cunningham Memorial Scholarship provides an award to a graduating senior of Doddridge County High School.  The inaugural recipient is Haley Lynch. 

Demetry Walker Memorial Scholarship provides an award to a graduating senior who is a West Virginia resident.  The inaugural recipient is Cheyenne Batton of Lincoln High School.  

“We are grateful for the generosity of our donors, and the commitment of our scholarship committee volunteers who donate their time to review applications and recommend scholarship recipients,” said YCF President Patty Showers Ryan. “Their thoughtful contribution makes higher education more accessible to students in our community.”  

Following are YCF’s new scholarship recipients for the 2024-25 academic year:  

Angela Scotchel Memorial Basketball Scholarship — Ella Simpson, University High School  

Angela Shahan Memorial Scholarship — Kirsten Myers, Preston High School  

Angie and Abir Majumdar Scholarship — Chloe Shoemaker, Fairmont State University  

Bobby Lee Secret Memorial Scholarship — Ajai Woofter, Notre Dame High School  

Brandi Kay Bowen Scholarship — Destiny Berryman, Doddridge High School; Ava Wekseth, Doddridge High School  

Catherine Flynn Morrison Memorial Scholarship — Audrie Minigh, South Harrison High School  

Charlotte and Mary Gail Koen Scholarship — Jordan Cox, North Marion High School; Katlyn Hoy, North Marion High School  

Demetry Walker Memorial Scholarship — Cheyenne Batton, Lincoln High School  

Dr. William E. Phillips Jr. Leadership Marion Scholarship — Brea Presley, Fairmont Senior High School  

Erin Marie Keener Nursing Scholarship — Zyiah Bailey, West Virginia University  

Ernest Daniel Conaway, Raymond Guy Baker, and Everett Reece Baker Memorial Scholarship — Jordan Cox, North Marion High School; Lorn Wolfe, West Virginia University  

Frances Scarcelli Tyler Scholarship — Cole Goldizen, Notre Dame High School  

George E. and Joanne R. Davis Memorial Scholarship — Jennifer O’Palko, Morgantown High School; Luke Puderbaugh, Morgantown High School  

 J. Cecil Jarvis Memorial Scholarship — Dylan Iaquinta, West Virginia University; Logan Peck, West Virginia University  

Jacob David Bower “Bower Power” Memorial Scholarship — Jordan Cox, North Marion High School; Charles Frank, North Marion High School  

James A. Womeldorff Vocational Development Scholarship — Bryar Huff, West Virginia University  

Jean and Laurence S. DeLynn Scholarship — Jeremy Campbell, University High School; Taryn Higgins, Morgantown High School; Jordyn Landis, Lincoln High School; Alysa Langan, Mountain Ridge High School; Ava Liston, University High School; Luke Puderbaugh, Morgantown High School; Reese Springsteen, Albert Gallatin High School; Lanae Street, Homeschool  

Jim Dunn Memorial Scholarship — Andrew Bowen, Huntington High School; Madeline Gump, Morgantown High School; Taylor Hess, North Marion High School; Katie Hicks, Tucker County High School  

John C. And Joann T. Wills Music Educators Scholarship — Emily Bucklew, Preston High School  

KHS Class of ‘59 Scholarship — Kirsten Myers, Preston High School  

Lillian A. Devison Scholarship — Jamie DeSantis, West Virginia University  

Margaret L. Spencer Health Career Education Scholarship — Hannah Mooney, West Virginia University  

Matthew “Biggie” Wolfe Memorial Scholarship — Emily Arnett, University High School; Chloe Downs, University High School  

Micah Wilson Memorial Scholarship — Emily Arnett, University High School; Ava Liston, University High School  

Mountain Loggers Group Inc. Scholarship — Payton Shreve, West Virginia University  

Nathan Cunningham Memorial Scholarship — Haley Lynch, Doddridge High School  

North Elementary Scholarship — Elise Lupo, Morgantown High School  

PFC Andrew Martin “Bo” Harper Memorial Scholarship — Chloe Downs, University High School; Kaylee Reed, Bridgeport High School  

Roy and Frances Valentine Family Scholarship — Greyson Kuhn, Preston High School  

Rusty Mazzie and Seth Nicholson Memorial Scholarship — Cole Goldizen, Notre Dame High School  

Sam McLaughlin Scholarship for the Arts — Kaylee Cornell, Fairmont Senior High School  

Scott Argabrite Memorial Scholarship — Kendall Ackerman, Socastee High School  

Seth Burton Memorial Scholarship — Brea Peasley, Fairmont Senior High School  

Sgt. Christopher Dalton Memorial Scholarship — Liana Martin, Morgantown High School  

Soundra K. Poling — Brookhaven Elementary Scholarship — Travis Rice, Morgantown High School  

William Charles Davis and Dorcas Regina Davis Educational Scholarship — Bryar Huff, West Virginia University  

William “Will” Charleton Bridges Scholarship — Brea Presley, Fairmont Senior High School 

Woodrow W. Woods Scholarship — Cheyenne Batton, Lincoln High School; Ava Belcastro, Lincoln High School; Sydney Foster, West Virginia University; Jacob Howe, West Virginia University; Bryar Huff, West Virginia University; Jayln Lamp, West Virginia University; Aubrie Minigh, South Harrison High School; Brooklyn Randolph, Bridgeport High School; Tyler Randolph, Bridgeport High School; Kaylee Reed, Bridgeport High School; Chloe Shoemaker, Fairmont State University; Reese Simon, Robert C. Byrd High School; Raelyn Vance, Fairmont State University; Cameron Zannino, Bridgeport High School  

YCF is a tax-exempt public charity created by and for the people of north-central West Virginia to manage multi-generational endowments.  

For more information, visit ycfwv.org or call 304-296-3433.